Dear All,
Sunday's Bottom Line:
I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon, and relative to Sunday, here's a three-day version of Before, During, and After.
Saturday was a travel/tourist day for Mark and Hillary and a DM seminar day for Scott and James, at the end of which they all convened at Hillary and Joyce's home near Nairobi, Kenya for a birthday party.
Sunday's schedule had Scott preaching at a church an hour or so away in Kirinyaga, while Mark preached at Hillary's church in Nairobi.
On Monday, Mark will drive with James to Eldoret to hold a DM seminar there, while Scott drives back to Kirinyaga with Hillary to hold a DM summit for group members and coaches in that region.
Sunday's Prayer Requests:
- Safe travel for all our missionaries.
- Folks who heard Mark's and Scott's Sunday morning messages to remember and apply what the Holy Spirit spoke them in those services.
- Receptive hearts and minds at the Eldoret DM seminar on Monday; no strife or distractions.
- Refreshing, rejoicing, and refinement of processes at the Monday DM summit in Kirinyaga.
Sunday's Details:
This trip is involving many hours of "ground transportation" which can be draining both physically and mentally, and all the moving of people and supplies from place to place can increase opportunities for things to be misplaced or forgotten. Thanks to God, our guys' good planning, and your prayers, so far, so good. = )
Scott said his and James' DM seminar in Mtito Andei "went really well" with 95 attending and a total of 44 registering to join disciple-makers groups!
[NOTE: Any believer in the U.S. or overseas can join a DM group and be trained in several months to lead his or her own group, but our preference is for church leaders and especially pastors to join DM groups because the pastor sets the direction and pattern for the whole church. Raising disciple-makers happens most effectively when the pastor has the vision for it and has personally experienced the process. That's why Scott is always so jazzed to see how many pastors are registering to join DM groups.]
Scott said, "All of these [pictured below] are pastors, and they committed to join DM groups. Pastor Steve [of Disciple-Maker Indeed fame a few days ago] will travel with 3 of his coaches the 1.25 hours every week to lead these pastors in in-person groups."
Many pastors who want to experience the disciple-making process
This weekend, our missionaries are trading partners, much like what happens in a square dance: you dance with one partner for a while and then you swing to a different partner. Last week, Mark and Hillary were working (dancing?!?) together to lead DM seminars for new people in Uganda and Rwanda, while Scott and James were doing their DM summit "dance" for DM group members and coaches in Kenya.
This coming week, all our folks will be in one country: Kenya. Mark will be partnered with James, both in Eldoret (some six hours from Nairobi) and other locations, and Scott will be traveling with Hillary to several additional places, generally closer to Nairobi.
I do realize all this travel information can be hard to follow and keep up with, and I/we very much appreciate your reading these updates and praying for these four missionary men and the many others who are helping them do so much ministry work. But thankfully it's not all work and no play. = )
Saturday was Mark's birthday, and his wish came true.
He got to tour a coffee plantation!
That evening, everyone gathered at Hillary and Joyce's home to celebrate Mark's birthday. (Hillary is taking the picture, and his wife, Joyce, is on the left in red.)
Birthday boy with cake and happy friends!
A good time was had by all, and Scott captioned the following two pictures, "Birthday celebration, African style!"
The cake has been cut...
And Mark is "serving" Hillary
Happy birthday, Mark!
And happy Sunday, praying TTC partners. We really appreciate you!
Blessings,
Patty